The Canadiens organization was deeply saddened to learn that former head coach Pat Burns lost his long and courageous battle against cancer.

Burns, 58, died surrounded by his family at La Maison Aube-Lumière in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Born on April 4, 1952 in Montreal’s St-Henri borough, Pat Burns played his way through the minor hockey ranks earning a brief stint with the London Knights of the OHL, before embarking on a career with the Gatineau police force. His passion for the game kept him in hockey as a minor hockey coach in the Outaouais area, and in 1983-84 he was called upon to coach the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL where he served for four seasons, including a trip to the Memorial Cup in 1986 after posting a remarkable 54-18-0 regular season record.

Burns made his debut with the Montreal Canadiens’ organization in 1987 as head coach of the franchise’s main affiliate Sherbrooke Canadiens. He was promoted to the position of Montreal’s head coach after a single season in the AHL. In his first season behind the Habs’ bench, Burns led his troops to the Stanley Cup finals after a regular season record of 53-18-9 and his first Jack Adams award as Coach of the Year.

In 1992-93, following four seasons with the Canadiens, Burns took on the coaching duties with the Toronto Maple Leafs, leading the team to the Conference championship and earning his second Jack Adams award after leading the Leafs to a franchise-record 32-point improvement. Following a one-year hiatus in 1996-97, Burns is hired as head coach of the Boston Bruins and at the end of his first season he becomes the first head coach in NHL history to win three Jack Adams Awards. After four seasons in Boston, Burns accepts an offer to coach the New Jersey Devils in 2002-03 posting a .622 winning percentage and leading them to the Stanley Cup over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in a thrilling 7-game series.

Through his 15-season career as head coach in the NHL, only once did Pat Burns miss the playoffs (1999-2000 with the Bruins) while at the helm of his team. His overall numbers speak volumes of his character and dedication. Burns won 501 of the 1,019 games he coached, losing only 353 and tying 165 games. His record in the playoffs stands at 78 wins and 71 losses in 149 games.

Pat Burns is survived by his beloved wife Line, his daughter, Maureen and son Jason.

I’m sure a fitting tribute is being worked on for tomorrow’s game. This game will be played in your honour Pat. May the players from both teams honour your memory by playing the game the way it was meant to be played.

He’s at peace. He put up one hell of a fight and I thought he would beat it again. Prayers for him and his family. Deep down I was hoping this was another false report as I really wanted to see him get into the HHOF. The Habs will of course honour him with class and dignity.

When I was introduced to hockey, and la tricolore, as a wee kiddo in the ’80’s, I had only vague intimations of Jean Perron and the ’86 run. But I remember Burns very well – being impressed, as a 9-year-old, that a former police officer was guiding my team to the finals, and also by how he always stood up for his players: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Fi7s4JWXE

My principal memories of him involve all those playoff series against Boston and Buffalo in the late ’80’s and early ’90’s (ah, the old days of the Adams Division) – he brought an incredible intensity to the bench. It’s only fitting that he went on to an even greater career, which will see him inducted into the HoF, albeit posthumously (it’s sad that the Hall missed the opportunity to induct him earlier).

My heart hurts today, and I can’t stop the tears from welling up. Even though we all knew this was coming, it’s just really hard to accept. He was not only a great coach, but from what I ever saw, a great man. Thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children and all his family and friends.

RIP Pat Burns. You will never be forgotten.

………..

“Thank you Cammy for making my day even more amazing!”

I STILL BELIEVE. I WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE.

Cammalleri: “I almost feel bad for a guy who plays an NHL career without experiencing what it’s like to be a Montreal Canadien”.

RIP Pat Burns,i loved the way he would get fired up behind the bench and got the most out his players with his hard-assed style. Only fitting we play the leafs tomorrow night to honor pat burns and on a night where the 50,000 game in nhl history will be played.

I was always scared of him when I was a kid. When he stood on the bench with his eyebrows raised and that pished-off look in his eyes, I was glad (for a rare moment) that I didn’t play for the Monreal Canadiens!

Montreal misses you already, and I hope you have a good seat in the sports bar in the sky!

The first game (TV or at the Forum) I ever seen in my life, Pat Burns was on the bench. And I knew I was watching the best of games. The team that time when Burns pushed to the limit, they always go all the way. For me, exciting hockey started then. Lets hope the Habs today are playing to the limit this Saturday, in honour of Burns.

IN FACT, THIS SATURDAY, HABS VS. LEAFS SHOULD HAVE A GOOD PRE-GAME HOUR IN HONOUR OF PAT BURNS. SERIOUSLY!!!

It’s nice to see that for one post we can all put our differences aside and agree on the same thing. I would like to commend everybody who has posted here for their heart-felt words for one of the great NHL coaches of the last 25 years. May the HHOF induct him ASAP. He deserved it long ago.